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I'm honored to have author, play writer, and speaker, Carol Lynn Pearson join me on the podcast this week! In this episode we cover her book "The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy." Polygamy has been practiced in the history of the LDS church, as well as in some cases of "eternal polygamy" in the LDS temple sealings which are still taught and practiced today, being acceptable for men. She shares how polygamy is practiced in our anticipation of what eternity has in store for us, inequality in sealing practices in the temple, and how leaders would be wise to confront the teachings of polygamy as being wrong, and not of God. We cover some of the history, the spiritual abuse that has stemmed from the idea of polygamy, and how the community would function better knowing that singular marriage is the only kind of marriage performed in the temple. We talk about turning patriarchy into partnership, searching for truth and examining all things, and how to move forward once you know what you know. If you've listened to my podcast since the beginning, then you know that this podcast is not centered on my religion. But, I do choose to stand up for women when I see inequality or mistreatment. I believe this is a harmful teaching and since many of my listeners live in Arizona and Utah, I hope that this episode will help heal some hearts and be an influence for change. You can buy this book on Amazon or Carol Lynn's website which I will link below.Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Eternal-Polygamy-Haunting-Hearts/dp/0997458208Carollynnpearson.com http://carollynnpearson.com/ghostofeternalpolygamyFit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
In Her Image: Finding Heavenly Mother in Scripture, Scholarship, the Arts, & Everyday Life
After reading the book The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy this year we knew we needed to address this topic and how it relates to the erasure of a Heavenly Mother in the LDS discourse. We were so pleased and lucky to be able to discuss it with the author herself and get her stories and background. We encourage everyone to read this book for themselves either to understand the pain of others or to feel validation for their own experiences and release the ghost from their psyches. We hope to someday eradicate the common response that "maybe we don't talk about Heavenly Mother because there are so many of them!" To find this book as well as Carol Lynn's newest book The Love Map you can go to carollynnpearson.com or Amazon.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inherimage/support
In this very personal episode, Val and Nathan talk about their own lived experiences around the LDS eternal marriage doctrine and specifically how they have navigated concepts of patriarchy and eternal polygamy. Valerie expands the concepts of masculinity and femininity and shares thoughts on how these concepts are often confused with our socialized understandings of maleness and femaleness. She goes on to explore why these misunderstandings get in the way of relational development and impedes our unique individual development as beautiful combinations of both masculine and feminine strength and energy. They also talk about why institutionalized patriarchy can and often does insidiously make its way into the home and consequently is growth-stunting and intimacy-killing in relationships both in this life and beyond. These ideas need to be talked about. Formalized doctrine supporting patriarchy and eternal polygamy hurt women. They hurt men. They hurt marriage. They hurt the spiritual, psychological, and relational development of every person in the systems where they are formally upheld. ***************************************Contact Valerie at info@valeriehamaker.com to get on a waitlist for one of her space limited processing/support groups mentioned in this episode. ****************************** New group forming in April 2023 _____________________________________ To financially support the Latter Day Struggles podcast, donate via Venmo @valerie-hamaker (last 4 digits 3447 if applicable) and THANK YOU for so many enquiring on how to support our work! __________________________________
Are Mormon missionaries who lead tours at historic church sites like those across upstate New York told to teach false information about the church's founding? Mormon Stories producer and co-host Carah Burrell takes the reins for her second episode as lead interviewer of our guest Camille Jones as we talk with her about serving in Palmyra, New York at the LDS church's visitor center. In part one of our two-part interview with Camille, we discuss the narrative the church wants to be forwarded about the church's founding versus what Camille wishes she would have known while volunteering as a full-time missionary. We cover topics from the golden plates, to the Hill Cumorah, and more. Camille also discusses the confusing and uncomfortable advances older Mormon men have made on her throughout her teen years. This eye-opening experience highlighted the power imbalance between Mormon men and women, a theme that carries on into part 2 where Camille discusses being employed by the church. Show notes: Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson What Progressive Mormons Want with Julienna Viegas-Haws
Carol Lynn Pearson shot to the top of literary awareness among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 70’s and 80’s. Raised as a Latter-day Saint, she married Gerald Pearson in the Salt Lake City Temple, aware that he was gay, but with both of them thinking it was something that could be overcome with prayer and righteous living. But for all of their best efforts, Gerald’s sexual orientation wouldn’t budge. Recognizing their marriage could not survive, they divorced, and continued to love each other as committed friends. In fact, when Gerald contracted HIV Aids in the early days of that disease’s devastating run, it was Carol Lynn who cared for and nursed him until his dying breath. And thus her book, “Goodbye, I Love You”. Since that time, she has actively encouraged love and understanding for LGBTQ members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But that’s not all. Despite the Church’s abandonment of polygamy long ago, she has been disturbed by the concept of polygamy in the eternities, a mindset that has persisted in LDS thought and practice. As she took the temperature of fellow Latter-day Saint women and men, she found her sentiments were widespread. And thus her book, “The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy”. Bob Evans, with FOX 13 News in Salt Lake City interviewed her in October of 2019, for his segment “3 Questions”.
Our hosts discuss the book “The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy,” by Carol Lynn Pearson. The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy: Haunting the Hearts and Heaven of Mormon Women and Men, by Carol Lynn Pearson: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Eternal-Polygamy-Haunting-Hearts/dp/0997458208 Eric’s literary works: The Widower: https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V42N02_137.pdf The Prophetess of Mars: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NSJMQBV Book review by Rebecca J https://bycommonconsent.com/2016/12/28/book-reviewish-carol-lynn-pearsons-the-ghost-of-eternal-polygamy/ Privileged, by Kyle Korver https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/kyle-korver-utah-jazz-nba Too sacred for public consumption -or- Disgusting the prophet’s wife, blog entry by Eric https://motleyvision.org/2009/07/09/too-sacred-for-public-consumption-or-disgusting-the-prophets-wife/ The panel honoring Carol Lynn Pearson: AML Conference 2019. Quote from 1:28:57-1:31:25: http://associationmormonletters.org/blog/2019/04/carol-lynn-pearson-2019/
The 2019 Association for Mormon Letters conference was excellent. Our hosts use some of the panels as a means to discuss Mormon literature in general, focusing on the work of Carol Lynn Pearson, and on the new church history book, Saints. Authors mentioned: Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and DJ Butler. Favorite books by them: Mistborn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistborn Ender’s Game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game Witchy Eye: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753675-witchy-eye Carol Lynn Pearson: books mentioned: Beginnings, the Ghost of Eternal Polygamy, and Goodbye, I love you. The poem, A Motherless House: http://www.amotherhere.com/coll/pearson1.php The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy will be discussed on a future episode: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Eternal-Polygamy-Haunting-Hearts/dp/0997458208 The Saint’s panel was comprised of authors Scott Hales, James Goldberg, Melissa Leilani Larson, and Angela Hallstrom. Some of their work: The Garden of Enid: http://thegardenofenid.tumblr.com/ The Five Books of Jesus: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Books-Jesus-James-Goldberg/dp/1479271306 Jane and Emma: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8581198 Bound on Earth: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2793921-bound-on-earth
Join Brittany as she talks with LDS author Carol Lynn Pearson about her latest book, “The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy”. Carol Lynn discusses stories from her life, stories of women and men who’s voices helped create her book, and her time at the Red Brick Store in Nauvoo where she finally laid the issue of polygamy to rest.
Join Lindsay as she interviews Utah Women Unite founder, Joanna Smith about the newly ordained LDS prophet, Russell M. Nelson and his sealing to two women. Links mentioned in this podcast: Email Joanna for the Sunstone Quilt project at wallacefamily@ gmail dot com Purchase Carol Lynn Pearson’s book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy
Mormon Stories Podcast is excited to team up with Sunstone to present a recording of our live podcast on 1/25/18 with Carol Lynn Pearson where we discuss her book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Special thanks to the Salt Lake City Community of Christ for hosting such a wonderful evening and for the many listeners who came to enjoy the experience. These episodes closely follow the abstract of the book: "'Polygamy?' says the mainstream Mormon Church, “We gave that up long ago.” Not so, claims noted LDS poet and author Carol Lynn Pearson, who examines the issue as it has never been examined before. Any member of the LDS Church today who enters the practice of polygamy is immediately excommunicated. However, Pearson claims, polygamy itself has never been excommunicated, but has an honored and protected place at the table. It has only been postponed, a fact confirmed by thousands of “eternal sealings” giving a man an assurance that he will claim as wives in heaven the two, three, or even more women he has sequentially married during his lifetime. No such opportunity is available to women. Through her own personal stories, those of her ancestors, and the thousands of stories that came to her through an Internet survey, Pearson shows the power of the Ghost of Eternal Polygamy as it not only waits on the other side to greet the most righteous in heaven, but also haunts the living—hiding in the recesses of the Mormon psyche, inflicting profound pain and fear, assuring women that they are still objects, harming or destroying marriages, bringing chaos to family relationships, leading many to lose faith in the church and in God."
Mormon Stories Podcast is excited to team up with Sunstone to present a recording of our live podcast on 1/25/18 with Carol Lynn Pearson where we discuss her book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Special thanks to the Salt Lake City Community of Christ for hosting such a wonderful evening and for the many listeners who came to enjoy the experience. These episodes closely follow the abstract of the book: "'Polygamy?' says the mainstream Mormon Church, “We gave that up long ago.” Not so, claims noted LDS poet and author Carol Lynn Pearson, who examines the issue as it has never been examined before. Any member of the LDS Church today who enters the practice of polygamy is immediately excommunicated. However, Pearson claims, polygamy itself has never been excommunicated, but has an honored and protected place at the table. It has only been postponed, a fact confirmed by thousands of “eternal sealings” giving a man an assurance that he will claim as wives in heaven the two, three, or even more women he has sequentially married during his lifetime. No such opportunity is available to women. Through her own personal stories, those of her ancestors, and the thousands of stories that came to her through an Internet survey, Pearson shows the power of the Ghost of Eternal Polygamy as it not only waits on the other side to greet the most righteous in heaven, but also haunts the living—hiding in the recesses of the Mormon psyche, inflicting profound pain and fear, assuring women that they are still objects, harming or destroying marriages, bringing chaos to family relationships, leading many to lose faith in the church and in God."
We know that in the Bible, many prophets practiced polygamy. However, modern Christians and Jews mostly condemn the practice. What are Joseph's theological justifications for polygamy? Dr. Brian Hales tells us, The easiest one is part of the restitution of all things, and if somebody asks you, “Why did Joseph do it?” The easy answer is, he was a prophet-restorer, and the old prophets did it, and he restored it. That's not entirely nuanced, and some would say it's even correct. I think it is generally. The second one is it was a trial. This is the one I couldn't remember. It presented a special trial. The Lord does do that. It gives different people at different times different kinds of trials. A third one was to—it was the one I had talked a great deal about. It allowed all men and women to enter into a marriage, even if this is a plural wife, and then the [fourth] one is the one we started with, multiply and replenish the earth. We'll also talk about what Brian thinks of Carol Lynn Pearson's book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Of course on earth, polygamy is not fair. It's unequal. You could say it's sexist if you want, on earth. But I don't think that we know anything about eternal marriage, and we certainly don't know anything about eternal plural marriage. So to assume that that's a bad thing, that it victimizes women, and to assume that women should fear that is to fear unknown things. God has promised us everlasting joy, a fullness of joy. His plan is a plan of happiness. Check out our previous episode on Fanny Alger, as well as parts 1, 2, 3. Many of you will find Mark Staker's interview on Kirtland polygamy enlightening too. Don't forget to check out a transcript (link below), or the video! https://youtu.be/HXVAFCDxVRQ https://gospeltangents.com/shop/transcripts/theological-justifications-polygamy/
Today we sit down with with Author, Feminist, and LGBT ally Carol Lynn Pearson. We discuss her book “The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy” along with several other issues including LGBT inclusiveness and the development of her own faith. Carol Lynn has been a long time ally and friend of those who feel marginalized by their faith. […] The post 253: Carol Lynn Pearson – Haunting Hearts & Heaven appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.
Book Review: Ghost of Eternal Polygamy, Part 2 (Earl Erskine)
Book Review: Ghost of Eternal Polygamy, Part 1 (Earl Erskine)
Join Gina Colvin from A Thoughtful Faith and Lindsay Hansen Park as they engage in a two-part, joint interview with Carol Lynn Pearson, author of Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Links mentioned in this podcast: Buy the book: Ghost of […]
Join Lindsay and Gina Colvin from A Thoughtful Faith as they engage in a two-part, joint interview with Carol Lynn Pearson, author of Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Links mentioned in this podcast: Buy the book: Ghost of Eternal Polygamy […]
Part two of a collaboration with Lindsay Hansen Park from 'A Year of Polygamy' where we discuss the new book 'The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy' with author Carol Lynn Pearson.
Part One of a collaboration with Lindsay Hansen Park from 'A Year of Polygamy'. We discuss Carol Lynn Pearson's new book - 'The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy.'
Join Lindsay and Gina Colvin from A Thoughtful Faith as they engage in a two-part, joint interview with Carol Lynn Pearson, author of Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Links mentioned in this podcast: Buy the book: Ghost of Eternal Polygamy Tell your own story about polygamy here. Listen to A Thoughtful Faith here.
Join Gina Colvin from A Thoughtful Faith and Lindsay Hansen Park as they engage in a two-part, joint interview with Carol Lynn Pearson, author of Ghost of Eternal Polygamy. Links mentioned in this podcast: Buy the book: Ghost of Eternal Polygamy Tell your own story about polygamy here. Listen to A Thoughtful Faith here.
Dialogue sat down with writer Carol Lynn Pearson to ask what Dialogue has meant to her. Find some of Carol Lynn Pearson's Dialogue work here: Review of Beginnings. Review of Will I Ever Forget This Day? Excerpts from the Diaries of Carol Lynn Pearson. Photo essay including Carol Lynn Pearson. And be sure to watch for excerpts of Pearson's newest book Ghosts of Eternal Polygamy in the Fall 2016 Dialogue.
In this episode, author Carol Lynn Pearson joins Mormon Matters host, Dan Wotherspoon, for a one-on-one conversation about her new and extremely powerful book, The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy: Haunting the Hearts and Heaven of Mormon Women and Men. In it, Carol Lynn embraces two roles: the first, a position that many have ascribed to her of “wise-woman elder”; the second, “storyteller,” which role no one has ever filled better. From the gifts associated with these titles and her own huge heart and great power drawn from her love of her Mormon people, including its founder who instigated the practice and doctrine of plural marriage, she presents the most compelling portrait to date of the dramatic, heartbreaking, confusing, and emotionally devastating effects of polygamy’s continued haunting presence in today’s Mormonism, a Mormonism that ostensibly ended the practice of plural marriage more than a century ago. Through wonderful confluences of her own stories, the stories of women and men in early Mormonism, as well as stories drawn from thousands of responses she received from people who participated in a survey asking about their understandings of polygamy in past-, present-, and future-day Mormonism, along with terrific research and gathering of wonderful insights from Mormon and non-Mormon teachers and scholars, a compelling picture emerges that strongly suggests it is time to admit the practice is, and has always been, a terrible mistake—one that produces pain and heartache and leads to distancing from God and our highest selves. It is certainly not God’s own form of marriage, nor the Divine’s desires for us. In beautiful and loving ways, Carol Lynn shares reasons for seeing this conclusion about polygamy’s origins in Joseph Smith’s mind and actions as the most forgiving and healing stance toward it we can take, and one that she believes Joseph himself would agree with and encourage us to work to bring it to an end. Even amidst the many difficult topics and stories the book engages, Carol Lynn retains a positive outlook and reasons for imagining a hopeful, post-polygamous future. She does not leave us with a full de-construction without offering a new vision: moving from “Patriarchy to Partnership,” which, itself, is already a reality she and leaders she works alongside have already begun to know and embody. It is nearly impossible by book’s end for us to not want to join together with great energy in a wonderful (even worldwide, beyond Mormonism) healing adventure. Please listen to this conversation, which includes Carol Lynn reading many incredible passages from the book, and then add your thoughts, questions, and experiences in the comments section below!